Abbotsford, BC…The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades men’s basketball team defeated the University of Winnipeg Wesmen, 68-62, to improve their Canada West regular season record to 5-3. The Wesmen’s record falls to 5-3.
Tonight’s game was exciting from the opening whistle to the final, as both teams gave the crowd end to end fast paced basketball the entire evening. Winnipeg started off fast as they quickly built a lead early in the first quarter and held the lead throughout the quarter. UFV played great defense the entire game; it was the Cascades shooting that was cold early in the game. UFV was held to nine first quarter points and 22 at the half, but by keeping the high scoring Wesmen team to only 33 at the intermission, it set up for an excellent second half. The Cascades shot 27 percent in the first half and veteran fifth year guard Sam Freeman, Coquitlam, BC was the Cascades offense with 14 points. Steven Wesley, Spokane, Washington led Winnipeg with 10 points at the break.
“I was very pleased with our team’s defense especially in the first half. We were cold in the first half our shots were not going in,” commented UFV head coach Adam Friesen.
The third quarter belonged to UFV as the Cascades crawled back into the game by outscoring Winnipeg by 11 points to tie the game at 45 each. UFV continued to play great defense holding Winnipeg to outside shots and not letting their big men penetrated the paint for easy lay-ups. Kevon Parchment, a first year guard from Toronto, Ontario, was on fire in the quarter, hitting 12 of his 20 points in the third as he led the comeback with help from veteran fifth year senior, Kyle Grewal, Surrey, BC who’s key rebounds and leadership on the court led to two six point runs in the quarter. Tied as the fourth quarter started, UFV took control of the game as they outscored Winnipeg by six down the stretch to complete the comeback and win their fifth of the campaign.
“What a great effort by our guys tonight,” said Friesen. “I am very proud of my teammates tonight, when we were down at the half we regrouped and had a great second half,” said Grewal.
Freeman led UFV with 24 points; Parchment added 20 points and 12 rebounds as four Cascades were in double figures. The Cascades Nathan Kendall, Abbotsford BC scored 12 points and Grewal chipped in with 10. Wesley led Winnipeg with a team high 17 points. UFV shot 42 percent in the second half. Benny Iko, Laurel, Maryland added 14 points for the Wesmen.
UFV travels to Brandon to take on the Bobcats next Friday and Regina to face the Cougars before the holiday break.
WIN 15 18 12 17 = 62
UFV 9 13 23 23 = 68
Team Rebounds:
WIN 7+25=32/ UFV: 11+27=38
Comments are closed.